Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Attorney General Explains the Digitalization of the Country’s Legal System
#TheBahamas, June 25, 2021 – Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Sen. the Hon. Carl Bethel said the world has changed and been transformed overnight.
“Ninety-eight per cent of meetings are now done virtually, including all court hearings in the Court of Appeal,” the AG said during his Contribution to the 2021/22 Budget Debate in the Senate on June 24, 2021.
“In all three branches of the Courts, i.e. Magistrates Courts, Supreme Courts and Court of Appeal, payments for all manner of services can be done cashless by using a credit or debit card or using one of the electronic money providers.”
He also noted that the new Bail Management System to allow persons on bail to check in electronically will commence in July, 2021. The Industrial Tribunal will be launching and enhancing its e-filing with its new electronic connection to and integration with the Department of Labour.
“A world transformed indeed and I am proud to state that the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs has kept pace and been revolutionized right along with it.”
The AG explained that the Judiciary commenced its court modernization and reform initiative referred to as COMRIN, prior to the onset of COVID-19. One of the main objectives of this initiative was to make the court processes more efficient through the greater use of technology thus transforming the courts into paperless courts. The initiatives include the following:-
- the digitization of the court files;
- the implementation of the ICMS (Integrated Case Management System) in all of the Courts (Magistrates, Supreme Courts and the Court of Appeal) which will facilitate e-filing;
- the Bail Management system in the Magistrates and Supreme Court;
- the implementation of Digipay in New Providence in the Magistrates
Courts, Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal;
- the Court Automated Payment System (CAPS);
- the establishment of The Bahamas Judicial Education Institute (BJEI) and
- the recent appointment by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC) of five Judges and four Magistrates all collectively contributes to the objective of increasing efficiencies and assisting with the reduction in the backlog of cases which will also contribute to this objective. It will also assist in greatly reducing the backlog of cases which can occur for a myriad of reasons which include the transport of files from the various registries to the judicial officers (where files are routinely misplaced in this movement). The increase of judicial officers will replace those who retired or who were elevated to a higher court.
The AG stated that the Judiciary has established its own Digitization Unit which is expected to commence training in how to scan directly into the Integrated Case Management System (ICMS) in July, 2021.
He said the Anchor Group (the vendor for the ICMS) will commence the training of the staff of this unit in early July, 2021. The unit itself will be responsible for scanning files post December, 2020 and any other files not scanned by ZCOM. The software to be used by the unit is based on the ICMS, which will allow for significant cost savings to the Judiciary.
Photo Caption: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Sen. the Hon. Carl Bethel presented his Contribution to the 2021/22 Budget Debate in the Senate on June 24, 2021.
By Llonella Gilbert
Release: BIS
(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products concluded their 10 weeklong Twist To Win campaign with four $5,000 Mall at Marathon shopping sprees.
The campaign which was available throughout the entire Bahamas allowed consumers to enter by purchasing a 20oz bottle with a yellow cap
from the following brands: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Sprite, Fanta Orange, or Fanta Grape. Each yellow-cap had a unique alpha numeric code underneath which they submitted to the Twist To Win WhatsApp number.
With each qualifying purchase, participants residing in The Bahamas were entered to win instant prizes and into a grand prize draw to win one of four $5,000 shopping sprees at the Mall at Marathon.
Participants also enjoyed exciting instant prizes such as: Airpods, JBL Speakers, premium Coca-Cola merchandise, $500 Visa gift cards and Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music digital gift cards.
Out of 76,000 plus submissions, Brian Bethel, Ashia Demeritte, Merlin Adams, and Taraceta Neely won the coveted Mall at Marathon shopping sprees at the following select stores, Kelly’s House & Home, The Sports Center, John Bull, Brass & Leather, and BTC.
Leading up to the grand finale shopping spree, Coca-Cola hosted a Trivia Showdown with the eight finalists to determine the four winners. Finalists were tested on their knowledge of World History, Pop Culture, Caribbean Bottling Company and Coca-Cola Facts!
After a few rousing rounds of trivia, the four winners were declared after each winning their spot in the shopping spree by answering their questions correctly and choosing the “Grand Prize” Coca-Cola labeled bottles at random.
The morning of the shopping spree Coca-Cola gave the winners exclusive access to the Mall at Marathon and its participating stores before
their usual operating hours. Grand prize winners were greeted with wide smiles from Coca-Cola brand representatives and morning bites before the big event.
At the start of the thirty-minute clock the grand prize winners along with each of their Coca-Cola shopping assistants ran to the various stores collecting items in their arms and carts.
Merlin Adams, a husband and father of four was proud to have executed his game-plan at the end of the shopping spree. With toys, a new phone and materials for his home from Kelly’s, Adams felt accomplished in what he gathered.
Taraceta Neely, a winner from Eleuthera collected beautiful bags for herself and relatives from Brass and Leather and Brian Bethel bought matching athletic and outdoor wear from The Sports Center for his family.
The final winner Ashia Demeritte bought linens and household items in addition to a new phone from BTC right in time for Christmas.
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to share the real magic of Coca-Cola with the grand prize winners and the may instant prize winners across the Twist To Win campaign. For more updates on new products, promotions, and events follow www.cbcbahamas.com.
Bahamas News
The Coca-Cola Art Project Astonishes Art Lovers at The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products displayed
their astonishing Coca-Cola Art Project (CCAP), during Baha Mar’s five-day Culinary & Arts Festival. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola partnered with The University of The Bahamas’ Visual Art and Design Department for a culturally rich art competition. UB’s art students were challenged to create pieces surrounding the theme, Bahamian music.
As a result, 20 student works of art were made, with four students declared as winners at the CCAP exhibit opening in Baha Mar’s ECCHO: Art Gallery in August. To recreate the culturally stimulating magic felt at the exhibit’s premiere, the CCAP was featured at the FUZE Art Tent during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival.
Nine incredible pieces of art lined the walls of the Coca-Cola Art Project, four of which included the winning pieces from Jhanaisia Cole,
with ‘Gaulin Bride’; Alyssa Pinder, with ‘Shotgun Wedding’; Nelson Gray, with ‘Untitled’; and Jaela Bowe, with the piece ‘Whims of Obeah, a Folktail’. Additionally, an intimate listening room was built. It displayed students’ artistic processes, UB Visual Art and Design representatives, and a recap of the exhibit opening for audiences.
Art enthusiasts also enjoyed premium limited-edition CCAP keepsakes at the booth. Journals which featured a collage of all 20 student submissions on the front and back cover, postcards with an art piece on the cover along with the student’s name, title, dimension and materials on the back and pens designed with the CCAP’s dynamic logo.
Throughout the art festival diverse groups of people visited the art tent taking in the displays while enjoying the artistic insights from the
listening booth.
Community and culture are always at the forefront of Caribbean Bottling Community, and it was boldly showcased during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival for the third consecutive year.
For more details on the Coca-Cola Art Project, events and new products visit www.cbcbahamas.com today!
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor delighted Jollification
attendees with bubbles from their Bottega and Bouvet Ladubay sparkling wines and Besserat de Bellefon champagne lines.
Located in the Monument Circle on The Retreat grounds, CWS transformed The Retreat Garden into a lush lounge with Besserat, Bouvet and their latest product addition, Bottega, during the two-day affair.
The festivities kicked off Friday during BNT Member’s Night. Guests enjoyed exclusive offerings from CWS’s catalogue, offered exclusively to members. Complimentary mixes or glasses on the rocks included El Tequileno tequila, Hard Truth whiskey, House of Angostura rum, Cross Keys gin, Nemiroff vodka and a slew of wines such as Fonesca Bin, Bottega and Besserat.
Guests also savored the ‘Jolly Paloma’ cocktail, an instant favorite made with El Tequileno tequila, Schweppes Grapefruit and Domaine de Paris rose wine. To end the night, guests were treated to branded limited-edition wine tumblers as keepsakes.
On Saturday and Sunday, Jollification attendees delighted in glasses or bottles of champagne and sparkling brut or rosé wines while taking
in the comfort of the chic lounge. In addition to purchasing bottles for onsite consumption, consumers were also able to purchase bottles as gifts whether for themselves or someone special.
The sophisticated “bubble lounge” lounge was decked with velvet couches, gold rimmed cocktail tables, blue and pink pillows, and a white floral branded backdrop created for capturing the perfect picture.
Caribbean Wines & Spirits, a historic partner of the Bahamas National Trust was pleased to support Jollification 2025 to kick off the festive season and share their expansive range of spirits.
To keep up to date with all CWS products and events, visit their website at www.cwsbahamas.com today.
